Websites

This article explains the goods and the bads of creating websites through website creation platforms like, wix.com, google sites,maestro webuilder, and wordpress. It is true that you can create them in an hour or so, but you really need to have all the material you want to use ready. I am not very tech savvy, and I found it to be very frustruating, because you cannot have too much information on it, or you dont always have the ability to change font, size, color. However, I know of people that used these tools and are very happy with the results.
http://www.technologyinthearts.org/?p=1773#more-1773

Is Direct Mail Dead?

Given the statistics on online donations, some may argue that non-profit organizations should shift their development and marketing dollars away from direct mail. Articles, like the one below, discuss the rise in online giving among various demographic groups, including those above the age of 65. Is this the end of direct mail for non-profits? Probably not. Although online giving has become significantly more popular, there is no denying that there are many who still like to receive solicitations and information by mail. I think the balance between the two options has more to do with the budget of the organization, and whether historical data has shown that direct mail has been effective within the institution's core and peripheral audiences.

http://philanthropy.com/blogs/prospecting/internet-giving-grows-in-popularity-with-older-americans/29977

Digital surfacing

Jacob Slevin states that digital surfacing will emerge as a leading material and surface in the coming years and that the opportunity with digital surfacing is: "1. the ability to deploy a non-static finish (alternative to paint, wallpaper, wood paneling, stone), and challenge patrons to consume dynamic spatial boundaries, and (2) the notion of teleportation, whereas patrons are potentially in two locations at once, experiencing two environments at once, a duality between here and anywhere."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jacob-slevin/trend-forecasting-digital_b_859200.html

The joy of drawing

Yet another example of social media and technology trends that allow to bring out the artist in everyone. I love that people from all around the world are experimenting art as a group thanks to technology and that viewers can easily have access to great, diverse, amateur, and masterpieces of art.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/05/17/prweb8435292.DTL

Is the web site dead?

This article talks about fast paced technology trends. It also mentions how arts organizations need to be quick and move forward with technology always keeping up to date on what is to come. What to choose from when talking about mobile apps, which platform to develop it on; iOS, Android and mobile websites. Another good point in the article is the transparency we should have with patrons with regards to privacy policies. Arts organization should keep in mind all this and at the same time be strategic about it, it is time consuming. Some organizations even have staff positions strictly focused on these subjects and tasks.
http://artsmarketing.org/resources/article/2011-01/top-technology-trends-what%E2%80%99s-ahead-arts-marketers-2011?utm_source=MagnetMail&utm_medium=email&utm_term=barryarts@comcast.net&utm_content=amo_e-blast_Top_Technology_Trends_01_06_11&utm_campaign=Top%20Technology%20Trends%3A%20What's%20Ahead%20for%20Arts%20Marketers%20in%202011

Sustained return

This is an interesting article about social media and other marketing and sales tools. It says there is not much success given that the return is a meager 2%. In the arts, I believe a 2% increase in revenue or a 2% increase in audience attendance is a good deal, especially when the up-front cost is minimal to nothing. Yes, it is true that social media is time consuming and that in small organizations it tends to exhaust your staff. Is it a great success, perhaps not great. However it helps move forward.
Applying this statement to arts organizations, "You may see a bigger bump in sales from something like Groupon--but only on a temporary basis," For arts organization this means that you have (hopefully) a lasting impact, and isn't this the purpose of art, a lasting impact?
http://www.fastcompany.com/1746838/facebook-places-foursquare-social-medias-tiny-2-impact-on-businesses?partner=homepage_newsletter

Is this thinking outside the box or what?

We hear a lot about changing our traditional business methods in the arts, that the lack of funding is breaking us apart, and there are great discussions on product delivery.
This man, Eric Whitacre, is taking an art form, that we usually relate it to Sunday Church, and he is delivering it to the world, he is modernizing it, he is making it vibrant and accessible. He is bringing singers together that perhaps never would of had the opportunity to sing in a choir, and he made their dreams come true.
http://www.ted.com/talks/eric_whitacre_a_virtual_choir_2_000_voices_strong.html

Doodle

http://blog.artsusa.org/2011/05/11/google-celebrates-martha-graham/#more-8407
I am always intrigued when google creates logos in their main page. What a great way to mass educate the public on art, history, etc. What I did not know was that google sponsors annual contests. I especially like that at the end of the very short article they state: " It’s nice to see one of the most powerful companies in the world leading by example and devoting a little time to creativity and the arts. It’s certainly a model that we all should encourage other corporations to follow"

Process or Product?

If I am in Boston I would like to shake this man's hand as well. In talking about how can art be sustainable by itself he states " “celebrity will disappear, and all that will be left are micro-cultures” (cough Kickstarter projects cough) that can and will sustain themselves. He believes that for an artist, it’s the process not the product that is the art (cough Kickstarter projects cough)."
My experience with very small organization is that they are focused in marketing initiatives, events, attracting new, younger audiences, but they seem not to focus on what people really want to see or hear. Focus on the art in itself and enjoy the process!
http://blog.kickstarter.com/post/5455315660/studio-visit-with-moore-patterns-jeff-lieberman-moore

http://www.jsonline.com/features/technology/119504599.html
I do not really understand how this technology works. However, what amazes me is that
a student "works on an interactive sculpture called "MindSpike." His headset senses brainwave activity and then moves a magnetic oil inside the sculpture"..."showing how technology can be harnessed as a basic building block of craft and creation"

The Technology Chalenge

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-kaiser/the-technology-challenge_b_816170.html
This is very true, that many arts organization do not take advantage of technology. In the arts, this is not limited to organization, but also artists or informal groups. There seems to be fear in exposing their talents. There is so much money that can be saved by advertising online. Also, websites or other social media tools can be updated constantly to, as Mr. Kaiser says "Educate thousands upon thousands of potential audience members and donors at virtually no cost."

The Library of Congress and the National Jukebox

I just read the article: National Jukebox website logs 1 million page views, 250,000 streams in under 48 hours by Randy Lewis of the LA Times.

Here's the link for the article:

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2011/05/national-jukebox-library-congress-sony-music-1.html

Apparently the Library of Congress has made over 10,000 recordings in their recordings archive collection available on-line. This is the coolest thing I think I've ever heard. The collection that is currently available includes selections for multiple genres including jazz, blues, ethnic folk, gospel, pop, spoken word, comedy, and other genres dating to the early 20th century. The National Jukebox is a coordinated effort between the Library of Congress and Sony Music.

Here's the link to check out the actual jukebox:

http://www.loc.gov/jukebox/

Bravo!

Expanding Public Exposure: Interactive Art Databases

New technology is expanding exposure to art. Using the internet, arts organizations can provide broad access to works that were once only available to those who could be physically present to interpret them. This development of new technology, like interactive online databases, opens opportunities for collaboration between artists, institutions and organizations like never before.

MuralFarm.org is an example of a sophisticated interactive database showcasing community murals produced by the City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program. A user can interact with each artwork, looking at the work as a whole or choosing to view specific parts in isolation. A viewer can also learn the story behind each creation. With the opportunity to view these murals online, those unable to travel to Philadelphia can now experience the community's history and artwork in a new way.

http://muralfarm.org/Muralfarm/

http://explorer.muralarts.org/#/browse

Pittsburgh's Day of Giving

Now in its second year, the PittsburghGives.org provides an opportunity for people to donate to their favorite non-profit organizations through one simple portal. donors can give anytime during the year, but on the designated Day of Giving, all donations made are matched by The Pittsburgh Foundation and other foundations. During this day, organizations & TPF offer giving stations all over the city, as well as up-to-the-minute updates through social media.

They had issues the first year. The portal was not simple enough and instead of a 24-hour window with gift pro-rated, they did a first-come, first-served dollar-for-dollar match that had people flooding the site and overloading it.

This year, they did a second Day of Giving targeted towards arts organizations. I love this idea, not because of the money that's brought it but because of the unified sense of community & support of our arts world in Pittsburgh (and, boy, do we need that).

Here's an article

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11133/1146152-325.stm?cmpid=theater.xml

From the Page to the Screen: The Poetry Projection Project

An intersting idea for melding various medias and artforms.

http://www.arts.gov/artworks/?p=7172

Technology's enchantments at Boston Cyberarts Festival

The 2011 Boston Cyberarts Festival uses exhibits, performances, workshops and concerts that use technology in one way or another for aesthetic purposes. Please view the article for more details on the way technology is incorporated into different pieces throughout the festival.

http://www.boston.com/ae/theater_arts/articles/2011/05/04/boston_cyberarts_festival_artists_use_technology_to_a_variety_of_aesthetic_ends/

Missed Potential of Blogs

In my opinion, many smaller organizations fail to use blogs to their fullest potential; not updating frequently enough, not utilizing pictures or video and not allowing the blog to act as a tool to benefit the organization. But Greater Reston Arts Center seems to understand the criticalness of the blog as a form of communication. GRACE's blog establishes a model for all small arts organizations.

As opposed to popular forms of social media, which only provide snippets of information, a blog is a platform to tell a story. GRACE’s blog serves as a window to the organization, allowing audience newcomers to connect with the organization, while providing long-time audience members with detailed information about programming and exhibitions. It instills the organization with a sense of transparency not possible through other forms of communication or online media.

Don't overlook blogging as a critical form of communication or its dynamic potential.

Online Donations - Keep it Simple!

I am sure that many of you have already had this discussion in your fundraising classes, but I would like to bring it up for anyone that hasn't. We often discuss ways to use technology to help our organization with its marketing, fundraising, and operational efficiency. However, technology plans that are not implemented properly can sometimes have the opposite effect. For example, donation pages on an organization's website that are intended to increase online donations can only be successful if they are easy to use and navigate. After having to research the online donation pages for several arts organizations, I realized that many of them are poorly organized, unnecessarily cumbersome to complete, and ultimately discourage potential users from finishing their transactions (simply because the process is annoying).

So, I have one thing to say to any of you that have some influence over the format of your organization's online giving tools - keep it simple. User friendly donation interfaces will ultimately help your organization raise more money and keep your online donors happy.

3-D Printing

Maker Bot is a new desktop 3-D printing device that prints plastic 3-D objects. The technology has been around for about 20 years but it's been recently redesigned to be more user-friendly and compact. Creative ability is now within the grasp of many people with a few thousand dollars to spare.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/14/arts/design/makerbot-is-a-new-3-d-printer.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

Crowdrise

Although the arts are not a charity, many arts organizations conduct campaigns to raise money for charitable causes. Here's a pretty innovative site that raises money for a variety of organizations.

http://www.crowdrise.com/

A Novel Thought

Networked learning has taken off in a variety of forms, most notably wikipedia. Taking some of the concepts from the blog post, what are some ways non profit arts organizations can incorporate public networked learning into their education programming? Suppose a forum called wikiarts was established where arts organizations specifically discuss their craft and their importance to the overall field of the visual and performing arts.

http://www.bethkanter.org/bloom-public-learnin/

Improving Grant Making Strategies using Social Media

More than creating a facebook page, non profit organizations need to focus more on capacity building and improving grant making strategies through social media. Too often non profits are not able to virtually engage their potential funding audience; the post below illustrates some ways these deficiencies can be remedied.

http://www.bethkanter.org/cep11/

IT a top Priority for the current presidential administration

The Obama administration is making a point to capitalize on information technology. This article makes several interesting points, mainly that the "information technology sector has been underutilized by public and social sectors". The article makes the following points that non-profits should consider in this connected world:
(taken from: Information Technology and Social Progress)

What problem are we trying to use IT to solve, and is it plausible that IT can make a real difference?

· What metrics should be used to evaluate the effectiveness of an IT-enabled solution?

· What are the roles and responsibilities of different stakeholders in the design, development, evaluation, and scale-up of IT applications with social benefits?

· If some applications of IT have high social returns and modest or uncertain private returns, can companies attract financing from "impact investors" who are generally willing to accept a lower financial return if the social return is sufficiently compelling?

· How can the public sector be a better customer for IT applications that help address societal challenges? How might different public sector users (e.g. large school districts, state employment agencies) pool their demand?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/thomas-kalil/information-technology-an_b_860582.html?ref=email_share

Museum as a film experience

http://www.artsjournal.com/realcleararts/2011/05/antwerp-museum-experience.html

The more we try to innovate - the more things start to look the same. Now a museum is trying to create a full sensory experience - utilizing technology to transport the viewer to a new level. Is all of the technology really a benefit to the art, or is it actually detracting from the art itself. Is the intrinsic value of the art cheapened by all of the technological additives?

Spiderman the Musical

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/13/theater/revamped-spider-man-returns-with-just-a-few-glitches.html?adxnnl=1&partner=rss&emc=rss&adxnnlx=1305507850-+uXrsOkUbInsFZre4xSjoQ

It seems that after months and months of anticipation - the time has finally arrived for Spiderman to be revealed. Here we see Art and Technology merging in ways never seen before. From the technical elements of the stage design to the intricate rigging systems flying actors around the stage - it seems that the arts are grabbing hold of the mystery and excitement caused by increasing their technological experience. One has to wonder, where is the theater world headed with such big buck productions as Spiderman. The technology costs are supremely high - but is the art equal caliber to the price of the production and therefore the price of admission?

Opera and Technology

http://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/set-glitch-delays-metropolitan-operas-global-telecast-by-35-minutes-to-millions-of-listeners/2011/05/14/AFB5am3G_story.html?wprss=rss_entertainment

A very cool idea for a set - but only if it is working. Also, people who are working on these sets - the opera singers - are going to have to get with the program better if they are going to really pull off making opera accessible and modern for the average opera goer. If you have people falling off the stage and sets not working properly, they're hardly going to be willing to pay $250 a seat for a 5 hour long performance.

Is opera just the wrong place for this technological infiltration? Is it best to just stick with the classical sets and singers? Right now, the spectacle is becoming the technology, not the artistry of the singers.

Romance Novels - The Success of the Ebook

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/books/romancing-the-tablet-how-harlequin-is-revolutionizing-the-e-book-market/article2021256/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=feedburner&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheGlobeAndMail-Entertainment+%28The+Globe+and+Mail+-+Arts+News%29

Though rarely considered an art, steamy romance novels seem to be driving sales in the ebook territory. What's next, soap operas? If only the arts could find a way to sell as successfully as these trashy novels, we would be onto something big.

In an earlier post I mentioned how it would be interesting to have people on sets using ebooks and ereaders for updated script changes etc. I maintain that this is still a plausible utility for these items and that it would probably be smarter for more arts orgs. to invest in ereaders.

It would even make more sense to start using them in the visual arts world where you could have a carry along guide that you could utilize while viewing exhibits.

Technology vs. Fundraising

http://www.cnn.com/2011/TECH/social.media/05/11/netiquette.thankyous/index.html

An interesting commentary about when and how it is appropriate to thank someone and under what conditions.

In terms of the arts world - it might be a smarter model for arts orgs. to start utilizing the web more with instant thank you letters as well as tax letters to help out donors.

Significant gifts would still be requiring a personal touch - but are arts orgs missing the boat on this newly accepted cultural phenomenon?

Music in the clouds

http://www.cnn.com/2011/TECH/web/05/13/future.music.taylor/index.html

Google joins the race in an attempt to get users to live stream from music databases - clouds - like Amazon's Cloud Drive.

In a day and age where music is everywhere - pumping out of radio stations for free - or at a price for XM or Satellite Radio - why would people pay more to have their music stored somewhere else?

With the advent of the ipod, people are treating their music collections differently - is the Cloud just the new wave of the future that we are all going to have to embrace sooner than later?

Turning Crowds into Computers

At the Workshop on Crowdsurfing and Human Computation, researchers spent their time determining whether or not the processing units in computers can be human brains rather than silicon chips.

The discussion focused on the fact that computers can do a plethora of things that the human brain can also, only faster....while the complex level of thought the human brain itself undergoes when solving problems, for example, can sometimes be worth the time it takes.

Websites on the Fly

Social media is all the rage these days, but many arts organizations have failed to create or update their own individual WEBSITES that carry all the need-to-know information about performance or class offerings---the bare bones, the important stuff aside from all of the bells and whistles of a twitter update or iphone app.

This article highlights some great URLs to be used for starting a website:

Saving Digital Art from Technological Change

The technology we now have available to us for experiencing the arts is ever-changing by the day. While most view these new technologies as perfect for providing access to the arts for all who may not otherwise have access, some digital age mavens fear that some of the earliest works of art created on the computer are in danger of being lost while new digital artworks are so complex that they are unable to be preserved.

In digital art, the key is to find ways of preserving the color and visual aspects of piece of art---which is made hard when, over the course of a 20-30 year working life, the software we use is made obselete or replaced by something new and cutting edge that may not be able to support the work of art in its original form.

A How To on Bolstering Subscription Sales...

Yet another arts organization is giving its audience more power over choosing its season in an effort to bolster community engagement and keep the cash coming in. Smart, I say.

The Theatre Royal Stratford East's new OPEN STAGE program, a public consultation project that began in September 2010, allows patrons to go online and vote for or suggest plays, musicals, and pantos they'd like to see at the theatre.

This is an interesting tactic to consider when looking at the subscription decline across many arts organizations in the U.S. If the patrons were, in essence, choosing an arts organization's entire season of theatre one would assume they would ultimately subscribe to it, therefore bolstering income. The question then comes into play regarding whether or not the overall artistic product would then suffer?

Me Me Art Engages Technology

http://zimbojam.com/culture/harare-international-festival-of-the-arts/2550-me-me-art-engages-technology.html

This new, fascinating combination of art and technology, featured at the National Arts Gallery, displays a unique experience as audience members watch a dancer inclosed in a transparent wall control the electronic music as her body moves. Attached to movement sensors, the dancer's motions serve as the link between the audience and the dancer. Audience members have an opportunity to interact with the dancer as their actions influence the dancer's movement.

Check out the article for more information.

Yale-free online access to museum and library collections

This article discusses how Yale University "has achieved the goal of making its collections available online to students, scholars, and the general public, in a free and open-access environment, is a splendid achievement that we hope will inspire other colleges and universities internationally to follow suit."

With more universities and museums beginning to make their collections more digitally accessible what will that mean for non-profits? Will there be an expectation to make everything digital?

http://articles.boston.com/2011-05-11/news/29532887_1_collections-yale-center-british-art

Listen to Music While You Read

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/books/to-help-sell-books-publishers-add-a-soundtrack/article2017364/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=feedburner&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheGlobeAndMail-Entertainment+%28The+Globe+and+Mail+-+Arts+News%29

I recently read the article, To help sell books, publishers add a soundtrack by MARSHA LEDERMAN VANCOUVER of the Globe and Mail. It is a common sense article about how advances in digital technology are allowing eBooks to be marketed with an accompanying soundtrack through digital download. It seems to me like the natural next step in on-line marketing to combine words and music. The author does make the point in saying that not all books would lend themselves well to added music. Additionally, those that can be enhanced with music still need to be carefully paired for the best affect. One example given in the article is the paring of music to the biography of Bruce Springsteen. They choose to use music refenced in the book that was not written by Bruce Springsteen as well as rare takes of music by Springstten himself.

I think this is a wonderful idea. It gives you the opportunity to experience a book through another sensory experience thus enhancing the experience as a whole.

Well done!

You tube

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2011/04/youtube-poised-to-expand-movie-offerings-in-bid-to-challenge-apple-amazon.html

Youtube is getting ready to offer on-demand movies - so as to compete with other large names like Apple and Amazon.

Is this new on-demand lifestyle a trend or something that will stay with us forever? As our lives become more and more jam packed - are we going to be seeking out all of these alternatives to sitting down at a specified time to catch a show? Can a company which has had such tremendous success with 10 minute or less clips like Youtube really garner the attention of the masses that have already gone to other companies that are more established in this type of delivery system?

e- books

http://www.jeffbullas.com/2011/04/20/are-book-publishers-dying-e-book-sales-increase-by-300/

E-books are the new wave of the future. This article discusses how the rise in online sales of e-books may make the printed book obsolete and a collectors item.

It is interesting to ponder whether this will move into the world of scripts for actors. Imagine having your notes updated nightly on the reader so that all you'd have to do is upload the new version instead of read through hashed out markings on a paper script. Also, imagine how it might change the way news casts are presented - all news appearing on the e-reader instead of on paper. Updates coming immediately through the e- reader rather than through a production assistant.

Dynamic Ticket Pricing

http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2011/04/ticketmaster_rolls_out_dynamic.html

Ticket master will now use "new technology to let artists and sports teams raise or lower ticket prices to reflect demand during the initial sales period." This is something the arts have conceived of doing when they have sell out shows like Arena Stage's most recent performance. Intriguing discussion of the other main competitors of Ticketmaster having to find new ways to compete with this new money saver for consumers.

Dziga Vertov

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704503104576251114213337004.html

An biographical article on how Dziga Vertov ended up "forever changing documentary film, creating works that still fascinate with their radical ideas about how cinema can transform perception and effect social change." Using technology to tell stories in a vivid way - different than any predecessors - this great film maker is still making art today and it is amazing how he inspires people.

Netflix killing Piracy?

http://torrentfreak.com/netflix-is-killing-bittorrent-in-the-us-110427/

An interesting thought that by making the arts and movies more accessible for a moderate and reasonable fee, people are becoming more willing to pay for services like on demand rather than pirating them from the internet. These sub-par quality movies aren't the draw that they used to be.

Handwriting - a lost art

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/28/us/28cursive.html

Interesting article about how writing is changing and adapting to the new ways that people think and write. That cursive writing is now a thing of the past - an art form lost - and that we are giving way to people using printing and computers which is opening people up to the potentiality of forgers.

Strategy Landscape: Strategic Philanthropy

The Strategy Landscape, created by the Monitor Institute and delivered with the Center for Effective Philanthropy, "is an interactive data visualization tool that makes it easy for users to see and understand patterns of grantmaking and strategies across multiple funders. Participants are able to see and develop a shared understanding of the larger funding landscape that they are a part of, and to recognize their position within that ecosystem."
With funding being as scarce as it is, one must wonder how many arts organizations are actually using this software to help with effectively pinpointing new sources of funding?

http://monitorinstitute.com/strategylandscape/
http://www.bethkanter.org/category/philanthropy/

Social Media Video Content

We talk a lot about IT related things that we've read, seen, or heard about on here. This week, I am posting about something I have been working on in conjunction with the Pink Line Project and the Arlington Arts Center to promote an event that I'm involved with - Critique the Critics. The idea behind the videos was to get people participating in the event to talk about each other, which would ultimately create some rather amusing content that could be published on social media sites (and have it be interesting for people to watch). Personally, I am far more likely to watch a short video than read a paragraph of text on a site like Facebook - I am fairly certain that others feel the same way.

Check out a few examples below:

http://vimeo.com/23301564
http://vimeo.com/23407576
http://vimeo.com/22924853

Leaf-Snap

http://newsdesk.si.edu/releases/computer-science-and-biology-come-together-make-tree-identification-snap

This article discusses LeafSnap, a new program that allows people to take a picture of a leaf or other plant object, and within minutes get detailed information about the plant they are looking at. Although not directly related to the arts, imagine what this kind of program could do FOR the arts. If someone could take a picture of a painting or sculpture and not only get info on that particular piece, but an artist bio, other famous/related works, and suggestions on what else to look at. I think that if hand held devices are here to stay (which I'm pretty sure they are) apps/programs like this could be really helpful for museums and art galleries.

T. White

Who's Next?

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/arts/news/article.cfm?c_id=544&objectid=10722762

An online arts website has launched a 3D view of 18 galleries across Australasia. The website will incorporate social media and exhibit information as a way for visitors to view the galleries and make reviews. Also, visitors can browse, purchase, and auction off items from these featured galleries. A new home for contemporary and modern arts, visitors can use this one-stop-shop website to find their art needs. This could end up being a very profitable business venture for the website owners especially once they expand their network.

Side Note: It would interest me to find out why most of these new technologies are coming from places outside of the U.S.

Virtual Global Dance Program

http://www.telepresenceoptions.com/2011/04/cisco_national_dance_institute/

Cisco, National Dance Institute and Tata communications have teamed up to create a virtual dance program for children across the world. In an effort to increase its reach, the National Dance Institute will offer dance and music programs virtually to school children across the globe. This will be the world's first virtual global dance program. Read the article to find out exactly how the technology works.

It's good to see American organizations expanding the scope of their programming to go outside of its neighboring communities to try to accomplish global impact. If proven successful, this technology could be the gateway to sharing and blending artist ideas across international lines.

Analogue artists defying the digital age

While most artists embrace the new digital age, this article discusses the stories of four artists who prefer dusty vinyl records, vintage film cameras, rickety typewriters and antiquated recording equipment. "The work of these artists is born of a dissatisfaction with digital culture's obsession with the new, the next, the instant. It values the hand-made, the detailed and the patiently skilful over the instantly upgradeable and the disposable."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2011/apr/24/mavericks-defying-digital-age

Establishing Your Presence Online

We talk a lot about the importance of establishing a presence for our organizations online. We discuss tips and tricks to improve our marketing reach and the effectiveness of our communications by using various social media tools like Facebook and Twitter - we don't pay enough attention to location tracking social media, though. I have recently been reading a fair amount about the importance of considering the value of location based tools like Foursquare, Facebook Places, and Google Places. Tools like Foursquare are now implementing new technology that will create suggestions for users based on past check-ins of the user and their friends. For any of you that use Foursquare, you already know that businesses utilize all kinds of incentives to increase check-in activity on this online platform - discounts on services, free cocktails, raffle prizes, and many other enticing things. Given the powerful marketing opportunities available through tools like these, we should think about ways to further engage members of our audience that already use some of the location tracking social media tools. Check out more about this on Technology for the Arts:

http://www.technologyinthearts.org/?p=1859#more-1859

Networked Nonprofits

With the variety of social media available, we often forget that being connected to too many media outlets may not necessarily be a good thing, especially if each of those social networks are not being properly maintained. The following article stresses:
"Putting the Networked Nonprofit ideas into practice and using social media and other emerging technologies will only be success if nonprofits take small, incremental and strategic steps. In this model, there are four different levels of social media practice: Crawl, Walk, Run, Fly. One level is not better than another; it is just where the organization is at with respect to becoming a networked nonprofit and agile at using social media and other emerging technologies."

http://www.bethkanter.org/c-w-r-f/

Social Media in the Visual Arts: Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare

This reprint from the Chicago Gallery News, September-December 2010, which appeared in the Chicago Gallery News Blog contains valuable information about social media, especially for those working in the visual arts. Most of us have ideas about how to make tools such as Facebook and Twitter applicable to our organizations, but this article also discusses how to make Foursquare relevant in the gallery community.

http://www.chicagogallerynews.com/blog/post/2010/11/03/Social-Media-In-Chicagos-Art-World-Panel-Wrap-Up-2b-More.aspx

Online culture increase

http://www.thestage.co.uk/news/newsstory.php/31975/theatre-website-use-increases-by-10-in-2010?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheStageNews+%28News+Headlines%29

The number of people participating in online culture has now increased by 10%. It really shows how our lives are revolving around computers and technology and how important it is for the arts to catch the wave and be a part of this.

"Digital participation is defined in the survey as visiting a culture website for any reason other than buying tickets or for finding out information such as the venue’s opening hours. This includes visiting a theatre website to view or download an arts performance or to discuss the arts."

It's so great that so many organizations are seeing the needs and fulfilling them for people to get involved from home in their own computer chairs.

Alice in Wonderland Ballet

http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2011/apr/17/judith-mackrell-story-ballet-technology

A very cool way to integrate technology and the arts. We are finding that there are new ways to attract people's attention and interest. Theaters of the senses are becoming a reality.

"Digitally manipulated images and scenery now make it possible for Alice to swim in a virtual pool of tears, do battle with a virtual pack of cards or tumble down a virtual rabbithole."

While technology frees up the story ballet to go wherever it wants, it also has the potential to liberate choreographers from relying simply on body language. In his version of Alice, Christopher Wheeldon and his designer, Bob Crowley, projected words from Lewis Carroll's text on to the stage to create one of the work's strongest images – the solo where Alice dances alone, with the existential questions posed by the caterpillar looping threateningly around her head. And De Frutos was able to use a faux television broadcast to deliver the one undanceable moment in his story – the king's announcement that he will give his daughter and half his kingdom to the person who succeeds in creating "the most incredible thing". That concept would previously have tied a choreographer up in knots, or taken a paragraph of programme notes. In the digital world, it can be communicated briskly, wittily and efficiently.

Pina Bausch in 3d

http://www.artsjournal.com/sandow/2011/04/tipping_point.html

Bringing the art of dance into 3d - interesting article on how one filmmaker is bringing technology to the arts through film and 3d animation.

"Pina reinvented dance; I felt in my own way that I had to reinvent film-making, because I couldn’t build on anything that had gone before."

Philly orchestra

http://www.artsjournal.com/sandow/2011/04/tipping_point.html

It is amazing to me in this day and age that orchestras like Philadelphia aren't making use of technology the way that the LA Symphony is - broadcasting to local movie theaters etc. Why aren't they using the power of the web to solicit more donations? Why are we just now hearing about the plight of this organization in the news? Wouldn't it be smarter for them to have been reaching out and using technology to garner more interest and support earlier? What good is a paper insert in their programs which condemns themselves by their poor spending habits and donor withdrawal?

Yo Yo Ma and Lil Buck link

Reference: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/blogspot/post/yo-yo-ma-and-lil-buck-create-a-new-ballet/2011/04/15/AFvmh1jD_blog.html

Link to this u tube video of the Cellist Yo Yo Ma and a collaboration with the hip hop dancer Lil Buck. The collaboration is a promotion for an event to bring arts back into the schools. This is a great video to watch

Gamification at Museums

Reference: http://www.artsjournal.com/realcleararts/2011/engagement-via-games.html The Next New: Gamification at Museums, written by Judith H. Dobrzynski.
The article presents ways that museums are trying to appeal to new attendees by creating game like situations. The Metropolitan museum had a mystery at the museum event. The more one knew about art, the quicker one solved the mystery. Last year at the Smithsonian, users could use their Iphones or Androids to participate in the Smithsonian Trek application game. The author encouraged art institutions to share what they have learned in their gamification process as this is a new concept.

Sackler Gallery Uses 3D technology in exhibit

http://www.e-torch.org/2011/04/echoes-of-the-past-the-buddhist-cave-temples-of-xiangtangshan/

"Innovative digital components and 3D-imaging technology complement the majestic sixth-century Chinese Buddhist sculptures in “Echoes of the Past: The Buddhist Cave Temples of Xiangtangshan,” on display at the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery through July 31. The exhibition includes a video installation that offers an immersive, kinetic re-creation of one of the earliest and most important Buddhist pilgrimage sites in China. Touch screens and research kiosks give detailed information about the site and the themes explored in the exhibition.

An artist's rendering of the 3D digitally reconstructed north, east and south altars of the South Cave in Northern Xiangtanshan. (Image by Jason Salavon and Travis Saul)

Carved into the mountains of northern China, the Buddhist cave temples of Xiangtangshan (pronounced “shahng-tahng-shahn”) were the crowning cultural achievement of the sixth-century Northern Qi dynasty (550-577 CE). Once home to a magnificent array of sculptures—monumental Buddhas, divine attendant figures and crouching monsters framed by floral motifs—the limestone caves were severely damaged in the first half of the 20th century when their contents were chiseled away and offered for sale on the international art market. The extensive damage to Xiangtangshan makes it nearly impossible for observers to appreciate the original appearance of the caves or to understand the rich and complex artistic and religious achievement they once represented. In recent years, research and new technologies have made it possible to digitally envision some of the caves as they once were."

Submitted by T. White

Should Writers Embrace Social Media?

European novelist Sara Sheridan shares her thoughts on how this era is defining our digital rights and the fact that writers are not considering the digital operations departments of major booksellers and publishing houses, and how those operations impact what (of an author's work) can be made public on the internet.

She also comments that commanding an online presence in addition to a presence in print allows an author to experience feedback regarding his or her work that might otherwise go unnoticed.

Sheet Music Galore

Edward Guo, a Canadian composter currently studying at Harvard Law, recently created the Internet Music Score Library Project. This online directory of sheet music boasts thousands of classical music scores and provides greater access for individuals in Canada. What makes Guo's project possible is Canadian law that says works by classical composers are considered in public domain 50 years after their deaths---unlike American law. Guo has been reported as saying the work it takes to scan the scores for online perusal is worth the satisfaction on behalf of his 'customer.'

This robot orchestra is ready to jam

This is an interesting article about the possibility of robots playing music with artists on stage in place of other humans with unheard sounds that are three-dimensional and interactive. This endeavor is called KarmetiK Machine Orchestra (after karma and kinetic) and combines elements of artificial intelligence/robotics, music and theater. These are things that humans are not able to do and is about new ways of making noise. The article asks, is it worth the effort? "Wouldn't performing robots dilute a core reason we play musical instruments in the first place — for the human expression of emotion through sound?"

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/arts/la-ca-robot-orchestra-20110424,0,4680790.story?track=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+latimes%2Fentertainment%2Fnews%2Farts+%28Los+Angeles+Times+-+The+Arts%29

Museums and the Web Conference Takeaways

Technology in the Arts recently posted some great advice from the Museum and the Web conference that took place last week. Some people on this blog have already posted information about the conference but I found these five key takeaways from Molly Hans to be very helpful for anyone who is involved with using technology at visual arts organizations. Molly sums it up with the following five points:

Takeaway #1: The web can help you accomplish your mission in ways never before possible.
Takeaway #2: Online audience engagement is all about participation.
Takeaway #3: Simplicity is key.
Takeaway #4: Share, share, share!
Takeaway #5: Don’t be afraid of failure.

More details about each of these can be found here:
http://www.technologyinthearts.org/?p=1857#more-1857

Broadway Shows in HD

http://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/theater-dance/broadway-shows-are-captured-in-hd-for-the-silver-screen/2011/04/18/AFVEh3OE_story.html

The above article is about how Broadway shows are being filmed in HD and brought to movie houses around the country for limited engagements. This is an idea that I think has been coming for a long time. We can extend the run of a show until the end of time, but we cannot make a 750 seat theater a 2000 seat theater without construction. And construction is not always feasible. In addition, people who do not live in or around New York City may not be able to travel to Broadway to see the show live. Therefore, only a limited number of people will be able to see the live production. So how can we expand our audiences? By filming the show and presenting around the country in movie houses we are able to expand our audience base. Sure it isn't going to be exactly like going to a live production. And I am not suggesting that the filmed version of a show should act as a substitute for the live show. However, it is a way that we can make the show more accessible to the world at large and build more revenue at the same time. In fact I think it should be taken even further by offering the filmed version as a pay-per-view performance on the internet, cable and satellite providers, or as a great performances series on Public Broadcasting. We owe it to ourselves as art organizations to find new and innovative ways to present and market our art, and find other sources of revenue while bringing our art to the world.

Former Sony President Dies

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/sony-says-former-president-norio-ohga-credited-with-developing-compact-disc-has-died/2011/04/23/AFNdefVE_story.html

In the above obituary we learn that the former President of the Sony Company, Norio Ohga, recently died. In the article he is credited with expanding the company by focusing on music, films and video games. He is also credited with developing the compact disc. He specifically wanted the design of the CD to be large enough to hold enough data to store Beethoven's Ninth Symphony in its entirety.

Anyone who is old enough to remember 8 track tapes can attest to how annoying it is when your music cuts out in mid-song to change tracks. So the importance of a cd holding an entire symphony is not lost on us.

It is interesting when you look back on the evolution of music and technology how far we've actually come in a reletively short period of time. Sony made music portable in a way no other company before it had with its invention of the transistor radio and then the walkman. They further improved the quality of sound by moving away from cassette tapes to compact disks. Even the article mentions how Sony used to be considered the electronics industry leader because of their advances with transistor radios, walkmans and compact discs.

Museums and the Web

"Museums and the Web is an annual conference exploring the social, cultural, design, technological, economic, and organizational issues of culture, science and heritage on-line. Taking an international perspective, MW reviews and analyzes the issues and impacts of networked cultural, natural and scientific heritage – wherever the network may reach."

Read more: Museums and the Web 2011 (MW2011) | conference.archimuse.com

Social Media in Prominent Art Museums

New York Times Article: “The Spirit of Sharing”

This March 16 article from the New York Times discusses how social media is turning museums into virtual community centers where everyone has a voice. Keeping visitors focused on the art and not the technology, and not getting caught up in technology fads are some of the difficulties museums are facing. The article also details media endeavors at several prominent arts institutions.

You can't escape social media, you have to embrace it.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/17/arts/design/museums-pursue-engagement-with-social-media.html?ex=1317182400&en=54dcf425fad684ae&ei=5087&WT.mc_id=AR-D-I-NYT-MOD-MOD-M195b-ROS-0411-PH&WT.mc_ev=click

http://www.cnn.com/2011/OPINION/04/21/koblin.data.art/index.html?hpt=C2

This is an interesting article about how data can be turned into art. I found it interesting and provocative in terms of how this one artist is utilizing digital media and data to create art. It makes you think of how different things can be approached from many different angles, and that which we would not off the bat think of as being artistic or related to the arts, can be turned into that.

Mainstream Companies Support the Arts + Technology

http://www.oh-yay.com/lg-electronics-makes-3d-technology-easier-for-new-filmmakers-8810396.html

LG Electronics USA, known for their cellphones and televisions, is joining Tribeca Flashpoint Media Arts Academy to provide new 3D TV technology for upcoming film makers. LG will supply the equipment AND funding! Down the road, LG hopes to expand this new technology to consumers.

Want to see some of the film makers creations? Attend the Annual Tribeca Film Festival in New York City April 20- May 1 for a premiere experience!

National Arts Strategies Interview

“Patricia Mooradian: How can arts organizations use social media to deepen visitor experience?"

This is a one-minute video with Patricia Mooradian, President of the Henry Ford. In the video she discusses how her museum uses social media to deepen visitor experience. What intrigued me the most was how the museum’s social media interaction is engaged by the visitor…and through this dialogue (visitor postings of video, pictures, etc.) the institution is able to learn so much.

http://blip.tv/file/4091988

Let the Ratings Fly

As of yesterday, the video game ratings board began introducing computers to the job of deciding whether a game is approproate for everyone, Teens, or for Mature gamers (16+).

In the past, actual individuals rated the video games in regard to how gory or sexy they were--but because of a surge of games being released online, the Entertainment Software Ratings board has written a program designed to replicate the perceived cultural normas in society of the typical American consumer in regards to what is and is not appropriate for children.

This will be done in the form of a detailed digital questionnaire to be filled out by the game's makers (with a penalty for any nondisclosure), making it easy and more efficient for games to be deemed appropriate for nation and international markets at a time when the production of these games remains in high demand.

Performers find all the world wide web's a stage

This article discusses how Australian arts companies are falling behind their international peers when exploiting new digital technology. "Many companies are struggling to keep up with the massive leap in expertise required in the digital arena and also the increasing costs involved."

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/arts/performers-find-all-the-world-wide-webs-a-stage/story-e6frg8n6-1226038684067

Evolution of Opera

Below is a link to an interesting article about the evolution of opera and how technological advances have changed operatic performances.

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/arts/la-ca-opera-in-21st-century-20110417,0,7951626.story?track=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+latimes%2Fentertainment%2Fnews%2Farts+%28Los+Angeles+Times+-+The+Arts%29

Tony Award Winning Theater Closes Temporarily

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2014793900_intiman17m.html

The above article addresses how the Intiman Theatre of Seattle, a Tony Award winning theater and one of the big three theaters of Seattle has decided to close its doors and cancel the rest of their season in hopes of being able to reopen their doors for a 2012 season. In the article they note that the theater has been consistently losing money since 2003. They also report, "In public statements about its financial state, the theater had blamed "management missteps" and lapses in oversight." They further report that the theater had not had regular external audits for over 21 months due to a change in their fiscal year.

Just another example of how important it is to have good arts managers involved in your organization.

Video Conversations With Ai Weiwei

I realize that most small or medium sized visual arts organizations do not have the capacity to organize something like this on a large scale. Once you read about the virtual conversation project set up by the Tate Modern, you may start to think about new ways to get creative with video technology at your organization. I posted something about Broadcastr.com last week and am now wondering about simple ways to make video content interactive and further engage our audience.

http://aiweiwei.tate.org.uk/

Los Angeles Philharmonic and technology

Reference: artsjournal.com/slippeddisc/2011/04/exclusive-the-future-as-see-f.html The article was a print version of a speech giv en by executive director, Deborah Borda, of theLos Angeles Philharmonic. She discussed how this arts organization has addapted to using technology in reaching more audiences through HD broadcasts, marketing their concerts on I Tunes since 2005. Recently they added mobile apps programs for the IPhone such as a conducting program where the phone is the baton, to conduct exerps from Mahler symphonies, ticket sales and program and artist information. They used Twitter to promote a free concert introducing the new musical director Gustavo Dudamel. They use facebook to reach out to the audiences and receive much more feedback from audience goers than traditional snail mail.

Animation and Modern Art

This article from the New York Times is a different type of article that caught my eye. We all know that animators sneak images onto films that you hardly notice as a viewer. A man named Tom Klein, an animation professor looks over the past work of an animation director Shamus Culhane. He believes that Culhane worked brief experimental art films into cartoons displaying quick flashes of avant garde art.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/11/arts/design/woody-woodpecker-and-shamus-culhanes-animation.html?_r=1

ATMs the new wave of the future

http://philanthropy.com/blogs/prospecting/atm-machines-raise-1-5-million-for-the-red-cross/29634

Imagine if we were to put ATMs in the lobbies of theaters of arts centers - what kind of response do you think we might garner from that? Imagine if you had to pay for your theater tickets with cash - use the ATM - and while you're at it - donate $10 extra to the theater. I think there is a lot of opportunity to grow here. If we can do this with disaster relief, why can't we use it for the arts?

Looking for local art? There's an App for That!

http://www.gazettes.com/news/government/article_0a933f3e-6084-11e0-8c2d-001cc4c002e0.html

The Arts Council of Long Beach is introducing a new app for Long Beach visitors and residents to access information on local art works. This new smartphone app is designed for users to access information and history on select art works, a project symbolizing Long Beach's commitment to art. Using GPS to find the user's location, the app allows searches under categories such as artist name, art type and location.

I know many small art organizations would appreciate an app of this nature for their local audiences. It would surely get their names out in the public and allow people to see what type of art and programs the organizations have to offer. There should definitely be some type of coupon or promo discount for first time users as a small incentive for people to start using the app and to spread the word!

Almost live: Theater goes to movies

Although many people are not going to see "live" movies anymore as discussed in the post below, more people are going out to the movies to see "live" theater productions. Since the Metropolitan Opera began broadcasting performances five years ago, theater is beginning to jump on board.

"We film by giving cameras the best seats in the house and film in really sophisticated ways," says David Sabel, producer of NT Live. "Nothing is edited. Audiences suspend disbelief and feel they are sharing the experience with everyone in the theater."

http://www.startribune.com/entertainment/119439714.html

Technology and the Movies: Better now or before?

New digital technologies have transformed not only how movies are shot, processed, edited, distributed, and exhibited---but also how they are watched. When comparing movie-going of the 20th century vs. now, technology has had a huge inpact on the type of social experience we now have with movies. In the 1940's, movie-going was a more extroverted social experience that brought together the masses; you physically went to the theatre with friends or on a date to see the latest musical picture starring Gene Kelly or Judy Garland. Now, the social experience is different and vastly introverted. Technology has made movie-going so accessible (on demand, streaming, etc) that it has lost that special something that made it unique and indicative of American pop culture. The masses no longer meet in the theatres on Friday night, they stay in by themselves or with a friend and cue up their Netflix.

Mobile Donations? Yes, please!

According to In The Works, A Google Mobile Payment Service, banking and finance companies (like Visa, Wells Fargo and Paypal), telecommunications companies (T-Mobile and Verizon), and tech giant Google are all testing and developing mobile payment services with launch dates expected over the next 2 years. These services could prove extremely beneficial to non-profit development departments across the globe as payments will be able to be accepted with virtually no staff time required. In an economic climate where layoffs at arst institutions seem to be happening more often than not, arts professionals are being forced to absorb more work than ever before---if technology like this can make things a bit easier for development departments, I'm all for it.

Want to save money while you're printing?

Hate those pesky ads or logos that print out from an online website when you merely want the text? Me too! And think how much WASTE occurs in that process. In addition, ink waste occurs when printing documents from your shared drive (of an arts organization) for personal use (ie: you print a press release to review and the press release has sponsor logos and your logo, etc). There are several products out there that free or virtually free that flag this excessive waste of ink and are compatible with most printers. These products include GreenPrint, FinePrint, and AdBlock Plus and allow you to print just what you need rather than every e-mail chain or website. For those that do cost money, the price is discounted a great deal for non-profits.

Check With Your Partrons First

Have your heard of Sliderocket? A new online presentation tool similar to a more advanced version of Powerpoint, Sliderocket allows you to embed polls in your presentations for immediate feedback from patrons and archive and embed your presentations on your website or blog for easy sharing and use as educational or training materials. Why is this important to the arts? As arts managers, we are always looking for more efficient ways to discern what our patrons want us to produce. Sliderocket's features afford us the opportunity to ask what our patrons think about a potential production before we produce it. Say, for example, an arts institution plans to commission a work from another theatre company to come and perform in its own space as a part of a theatre season. Imagination Stage did this recently with its production of Aquarium, a show conceived by Lyngo--an Ireland-based children's theatre. Using a tool like Sliderocket, a theatre could potentially preview stills or a video of a show they are interested in commissioning and poll its viewers with questions like: "Would you like to see a show like this at Imagination Stage?" or "What is your favorite part of this video? As commissioning a show can be costly, especially when dealing with a foreign company, a poll like this done early on can gauge interest from your patrons in a work you wish to produce.

A Virtual World Choir

The link below sends you to an amazing video of a world choir conducted completely online by Eric Whitacre. 2052 singers representing 58 different countries sing from the comfort of their own homes. Each portion sung is synchronized to create a virtual choir that rivals a live experience. Now although enjoying a live musical performance is more memorable, the visuals that accompany this musical achievement truly draw the viewer into the moment. I don't think that an online choir can ever take the place of a live musical performance, however, technology is definitely opening the doors to new and different avenues for more and more people to enjoy and experience different art forms. The question is now, how to proliferate the market so that these experiences are known by many more people.

http://www.artsjournal.com/gap/2011/04/hes-got-the-whole-world/

Collaborative Notions: Virtual Museum of Canada

The Virtual Museum of Canada [VMC] is an initiative of the Cultural Heritage Information Network [CHIN] and the country’s museum community. For a number of years CHIN has been helping Canadian museums integrate information technology into their practices.

The Virtual Museum of Canada’s website states: “as an endless source of discoveries, virtualmuseum.ca is a unique interactive space that brings together Canadian museum collections and riches in a variety of thought-provoking and instructive contents. It’s the window on current museum news and the reference guide to planning an outing.”

Not only is the website a collection of multimedia exhibitions, it also contains an image gallery, teaching resources, a directory of museums and a lab where visitors can learn about exploratory projects and technologies. All of the exhibits are interactive and provide activities, “how it’s made” videos, webcasts, “meet the artist” interviews, and lesson plans. The technology is cutting edge and practical in every sense. But the site isn’t just centered around one institution—it’s a collaborative effort, uniting content from museums all over the country.

While this exact endeavor is more realistic in a country like Canada where there are fewer cultural institutions over a much larger area; this collaborative, interactive model should be indicative of the direction that entire arts and culture industry needs to be heading.

http://www.museevirtuel-virtualmuseum.ca/index-eng.jsp

Unleashing the Inner Artist

New smartphone apps are allowing museum and gallery visitors to enhance their experience by having them virtually interact with works of art hanging on the wall. We often talk about ways to engage our audiences and tips for making their visits more fun and interesting - smartphone apps may be one way of doing this. The video below was recently posted on ArtsJournal.com and illustrates how new technology is augmenting the visual art experience.

http://bcove.me/h1jwl1l3

Artsteps: Creating Personal, Virtual Galleries

As stated on its website: It [Artsteps] is an application for artists, art organizations and art enthusiasts to model actual or virtual exhibitions by designing realistic 3-dimensional room complexes. Virtual exhibitions may include 2-dimensional artifacts (e.g. paintings, photos and posters), 3-dimensional artifacts (e.g. sculptures or small installations) and streaming videos.

Unlike the Google Art Project, which only allows audiences to view existing spaces, Artsteps is a tool that allows audiences to actually create their own spaces and feature personal or existing artwork. This tool is ideal for smaller galleries and museums as well as artists who wish to get edge up on the presentation of their work. Presenting works of art in a 3-D platform, closer to the way they are experienced in real life, is much different than looking at artwork flat on a computer screen. Growing in popularity and improving in their implementation, 3-D galleries rather than photo slideshows could the future trend.

http://www.artsteps.com/

Have Museums gone TOO Far With Interactives?

http://www.artsjournal.com/realcleararts/2011/04/monet-water-lillies-now.html

This article discusses how a Kansas museum is using hands on interactives and technology to "enhance" visitor experiences- by using one of the most famous Impressionist works ever as a centerpiece.

Rather than just display the paintings as the artist intended, they have included archival footage, background music, "copycat" paintings that guests can touch, and a computer interactive that guests can create their own versions of the masterpiece and email it back to themselves.

As someone who works in a busy museum, I cannot see how any of these things will enhance the visitor experience rather than coddle their minds or encourage vandalism/boredom in more traditional museums. First, how arrogant to assume what sort of background music should be played with a painting. By playing background music the museum is "setting the mood" for how they think a guest will/should react to a painting. Next, by creating a touchable "copycat" version that shows the steps Monet took in creating his famous flowered scene, you can potentially cheapen his artistic ability to guests (the "Oh, I can do that!" syndrome) or give them the idea that museums are always supposed to have things they can touch (maybe I'm old school, but the whole concept of a museum is you come and look, not touch. Even now in a museum that HAS hands on interactives, I am reluctant to touch them out of habit/respect...). And the computer interactive sounds like an ok idea...so long as the computer systems work seamlessly. One missed email or glitch and you've ruined the guests perception of the museum/exhibit forever.

I give them two points for an effort...but maybe they should be trying to educate and stimulate ideas some other way.

TWhite

Technology Certifications in the Arts

http://www.kqed.org/quest/blog/2011/04/05/gaffta-offers-creative-technology-certification-for-artists/

Gray Area Foundation for the Arts (GAFFTA) is offering certifications in Creative Technology Studies to designers and artists. The four categories are: Sound Emphasis, Visual Emphasis, Physical Interaction and Web Emphasis.

This is a fantastic idea! Many people in the arts have not been exposed to some of these key areas of technology. The Certificate is an excellent alternative to spending a fortune on college courses. I think once the program is accredited, people will find an increased value in their certification.

Street Art and IT

http://blog.creamglobal.com/right_brain_left_brain/2011/04/technology-makes-street-art-appreciated-brands-meet-banksy.html

Interesting commentary regarding how our social media and appreciation of the marketing world interacts with IT and Art.

Fraud and Social Media

http://philanthropy.com/article/As-Fund-Raising-on-Social/126771/ - It was only a matter of time before people would start utilizing social networking sites to take advantage of unsuspecting victims. Unfortunately it seems that as much as we are looking to grow in these free mediums, we must be cautious to legitimize ourselves and stand apart from the scammers. It raises an interesting thought about how we can make ourselves different and legitimate when the arts so often struggle with legitimacy in terms of finish product in comparison to other markets.

Podcast Episode #81 – Audience Feedback 2.0 – Quantifying Intrinsic Impact

From Technology in the Arts: In this episode, David talks with Clayton Lord from Theatre Bay Area about their work on “Audience Feedback 2.0″ – a research study conducted with Wolf Brown on measuring the intrinsic impact (intellectual, social, and emotional) of a theatrical performance on audiences within 18 theatres in 6 cities throughout the United States. The study seeks to establish: • A web-based interface to eventually allow any company to do their own impact study at minimal expense • A data set that will be useful for artists, administrators, advocates, funders and audience members • A series of national conversations designed to tackle how best to talk about the arts in a way that isn’t economic For more information: The Intrinsic Impact Project – Theatre Bay Area’s current online record for the project Intrinsic Impact: New Approaches to Audience and Visitor Feedback – a 60-minute webinar conducted by Wolf Brown and hosted by Americans for the Arts. (Must be an AFTA member to view this webinar.) Major University Presenters Value and Impact Study – a two-year study of the values and motivations driving performing arts attendance and donation. View article... Enclosures: TITA81.mp3 (11 MB) http://traffic.libsyn.com/technologyinthearts/TITA81.mp3

Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival online archive

reference http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/29/dance-along-with-twyla-and-others-online-nuggets The Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival debuted thier online archive on 3/28/11. This festival has online clips from 1937 forward. There are even more clips in their physical archives site. The festival is an historical reference of dance, performers, choreoghraphers and an instant asset to anyone with questions about dance This festival is the longest running international dance festival (since 1933) and has thousands of attendees, with this year featuring about 50 dance companies, and over 200 free performances each year

Amazon Cloud Drive

reference www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2011/apr/03/john-naughton-amazon-cloud-drive-google-sony Amazon launched thier new cloud drive service which allows a user to store up to 5 GB for free in a digital locker. If the user wants more storage the cost is 1 dollar per GB per year. Any files stored in the digital locker can then be streamed to any device that the user owns. So for example if a user uploads their music library, they can stream the music to their phone, computer, laptop, IPOD etc. Amazon will store any MP3 file purchased in the Amazon store in the users cloud at the above rates. This allows Amazon a corner on store purchases, cloud storage and streaming, a unique monopoly or should I say triopoly.

Video Games as Art

The Smithsonian will have an exhibition on the art of gaming next year, curated by Chris Melissinos.

The following is an excerpt from the article:

"Melissinos considers himself part of the “bit-baby” generation, that is, the first to grow up with computers in the home. He now has children of his own, who are top-notch gamers themselves.

The fact that the bit-babies now have children old enough to appreciate video games, Melissinos said, is part of what makes now the right time for an exhibit like this one to be displayed at the Smithsonian, which is known for, among other things, chronicling culturally significant trends and milestones in American history.

Now, several decades after the industry’s inception, the evolution of the medium of video games is also being examined as a story itself.

But he also contends that the video game as an art form has always been worth putting on display. Even though most art exhibits focus on visual works, Melissinos insists that viewing a game in the context of art involves not only its visual and musical components, but also the storyline, dialogue and mechanics."

What does this mean for the visual arts themselves? Do you think that we'll reach a point where art is completely digitized and the human touch has been completely erased?

http://voices.allthingsd.com/20110403/video-games-as-art-with-an-upcoming-smithsonian-exhibit-pong-equals-picasso/

Art Reinvigorates the Economy...Again

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-ca-celine-dion-vegas-20110403,0,3203363,full.story

I read with surprise the above story about how the city of Las Vegas expects a huge boost in the economy due to Celine Dion's return engagement scheduled to last for another three years. I'm not surprised that the singer's appearance will generate ticket sales. After all her previous run from 2003 - 2007 grossed more than $400 million and sold out a total of 723 times. My suprise is that Las Vegas, the city known as the hedonist's paradise, had experienced a sharp economic downturn since 2007. Of course it is only natural that they would be effected by the current recession just as the rest of the nation has been. It just seems hard to imagine that the gambler's paradise which is still reporting an annual income of approximately $88 billion is having as tough a time generating jobs and income as the rest of the country. The Center for Business and Economic Research at the University of Nevada Las Vegas predicts that Celine Dion's return will generate a potential $135 million this year alone and will indirectly create about 2200 jobs.

This is just more proof that the arts are important not just for its entertainment value, but also for its ability to reinvigorate the economy through the creation of jobs as well as ticket sales.

MoMA Digitizes Audience Responses

Recently the Museum of Modern Art [MoMA] asked its visitors to share stories of their visits. The museum provided small sheets of paper with the incomplete phrase “I went to the MoMA and…” and blank space below. At the bottom of the sheet were lines for the visitor’s first name, hometown, the date and the time. The MoMA then scanned and digitized hundreds of the responses, posting them on wall on their website. [Click here to view the wall.]

This is an example of one of the most basic forms of audience participation combined easily and effectively with technology. By posting audience responses in their original form on its website, the museum makes public the breadth of its audience and the commonalities between them. The project is also a way to highlight the diversity of the museum’s collection while allowing the viewer to serve as the messenger.

http://www.moma.org/iwent/

A New Way to Tell Your Story - Broadcastr.com

Is your arts organization trying to find a new way to deliver its message? Broadcastr is a new location-based storytelling social media platform that is helping arts organizations and their audiences tell their stories in a great new way. This technology employs the oldest form of storytelling - the oral tradition. Users can upload audio and video clips from their PDAs and smartphones and pin them to a map. It's simple, it's free, and it is empowering organizations to tell us more about themselves.

http://www.technologyinthearts.org/?p=1826#more-1826

Please, DON'T Silence Your Cell Phones

This article highlights a new iPhone and Android app that will allow audience members to interact with a performance by affecting the stage- specifically the lighting. Created by Georgia Tech students, this article tells of a new feature that will hopefully boost audience participation in the arts. A small step in the race for top technological advancements in the arts, the software is set to launch April 2nd in Atlanta.

I'm not sure how exciting this would be for audience members at this time. I'm not particularly enthused by the idea, but I think it may have some potential.

http://www.technologyinthearts.org/?p=1822

Museum Crowd-Curation

This article discusses the idea of audiences participating in the curarotiral process by "helping to determine, through an online platform, the artwork to be included in a physical exhibition displayed in a museum's gallery." The Brooklyn Museum pioneered this idea through the staff taking a transparent and scientific approach to the experiment. This idea is intriguing because we as an audience spend our time organizing media and organizations will remain at the forefront by presenting online audience engagement. By putting audience ideas together crowd-curation has the potential to reach high levels of contemplation. http://www.technologyinthearts.org/?p=1767#

IT & Baby Boomers

Back in November, The Agitator commented on an article in USA Today about appealing to Boomers. Here's the highlights - the last one surprised me a bit:

Make them feel good — should be a no-brainer for nonprofits. Make them feel hip — my advice … if you’re doing something new, out of the box, innovative … highlight it! Make them feel smart — your nonprofit is the right choice, is it not? Your welcome package is a great place to do this. Make them feel sexy — Help! I’m stumped on this one … what makes for a sexy nonprofit? Its celebrity patron is Angelina Jolie? Brad Pitt? Make them feel hungry — tell your story with flair and they’ll want to know more and more about what you’re doing, why it’s working, the problems you’re up against. Make them feel techie — maybe a bit counter-intuitive, but Boomers love their gadgets as much as anyone (and can afford them) … what do your email alerts/appeals and web pages look like on an iPhone?

The question was brought up "How can we make a non-profit sexy to Boomers?" A few weeks later, The Agitator post this video from American Jewish World Service as a great example. This video was one of four winners at the 4th annual DoGooder Nonprofit Video Awards.

Smithsonian's Folkways Label to Release Jazz Anthology

I never knew the Smithsonian had a recording label until I came across this article in the Washington Post:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/jazz-the-smithsonian-anthology-highlights-genres-history/2011/03/17/AFxxfubB_story.html

Apparently the Smithsonian scored a double platinum rating on a classic jazz anthology that their Folkways label released back in 1973. Now they are preparing to release a follow up collection of jazz entitled: Jazz: The Smithsonian Anthology. The collection of music is not meant to be a best of collection of jazz, but a collection of the significant contributors to jazz's century-long history. Pared down from 2500 titles to 111 the collection will be offered in a six-cd box set and goes on sale Tuesday.

Another interesting fact to note is that this project was not funded with tax payer money, but through foundations and private grants.

Playwright Lanford Wilson Dead

Today I just happened to come across an obituary for the playwright, Lanford Wilson, buried in the back of the Metro section of the Washington Post. I just happened to be flipping through the pages and almost missed the article completely. He died at the age of 73 on Wednesday, March 23rd also known as the day that Elizabeth Taylor died. It was the standard obituary notice giving the highlights of his life and briefly discussing his playwrighting accomplishments. It just seemed so unfair that this man described in the obituary as "one of the most important playwrights of the late 20th century" should get a measly 3 columns in the back of the Metro section. I'm sure by now millions of columns and billions of words have been devoted to Elizabeth Taylor. I don't want to diminish her importance; in fact, I completely agree that she should have articles devoted to her. It just seems that had Lanford Wilson died at any other time he would have been front page news. I guess it just goes to show that you should never die on the same day (or even the same week) as someone more famous than you.

Open Source Software for the Cultural Sector

Athena (stands for Advanced Technology Hub and Extensible Nexus for the Arts) is a free software system created by Fractured Atlas (a non profit that supports artists) for non profit organizations. I thought this would be interesting to bring to everyone's attention as a software platform created by a cultural institution exclusively for cultural institutions.

http://athena.fracturedatlas.org/main

Kickstarter - New Financing Tool for Non-Profits

I have been a fan of Kiva (www.kiva.org) for many years and was excited to recently find out about a new financing online tool for organizations and individuals in the arts. Kickstarter describes itself as the "the largest funding platform for creative projects in the world". This site seems like a great way for small projects to promote themselves and raise donations.

http://www.kickstarter.com/

Technology for Dance

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/thearts/2014538172_ezra19.html

A new look at dance and the integration of new technologies. Completely changing the experience to include a wireless element and special sensors all to enhance the movements on stage. This one-man-show, accompanied by a large screen, is surely doing something exciting. Read what the critics had to say about the show.

Data Sharing and the Arts

My theater - Pittsburgh Public -- is located in the heart of Pittsburgh's Cultural District and has closed ties to the Cultural Trust and to the surrounding arts organizations. These ties have been many years in the making, and as we try to navigate new economic waters and foresee the future of Pittsburgh still-developing cultural scene, we have been testing new ways to forge relationships and coordinate marketing and fundraising efforts. It's a difficult task, to be sure - especially when the comments of some prominent figures (*ahem* Rocco Landesman) encourage more competition for the sake of a "survival of the fittest" mentality". Still, our data sharing efforts are finally starting to pay off while many regions have yet to join the Cultural Data Project.

Here's an excerpt from the National Arts Marketing Project's blog post:

"While trust must be given, it must also be earned and respected in order for any data sharing relationship to grow. For example, the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council has been working with Elliott Marketing Group to compile and share the SMART Database, which allows organizations in Pittsburgh's Cultural District to pool their patron data and utilize consulting services as well as “best prospect” lists for more efficient, targeted promotions. The success of this data sharing program did not happen overnight. The arts council, the arts organizations contributing data, and the marketing group have spent years developing trust relationships with each other. Now, they have ten years of collaborative data, and the participating organizations clearly understand what they must contribute to the project and what they will receive in return. With each successive year, the data deepens. Correspondingly, the level of trust each of the contributing organizations has with the arts council and the marketing group also deepens."

To read more, click here.